In a recent development, the Uttar Pradesh government has provided a comprehensive response to ongoing allegations of "fake" and "state-sponsored" encounters involving gangsters in the state. The government's affidavit, submitted to the Supreme Court, vehemently refutes claims of police misconduct and asserts that all necessary guidelines and procedures have been followed in these cases.
The controversy stems from a series of high-profile incidents, including the killings of gangster and former Lok Sabha member Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, and gangster Vikas Dubey. The state government has stated that it has conducted thorough investigations into these incidents, leaving no stone unturned to ensure impartiality.
The affidavit emphasizes that the Uttar Pradesh Police have adhered to the guidelines issued by the apex court, including conducting magisterial inquiries into all such encounters. The government has maintained that no evidence has been found to implicate the state or its law enforcement agencies in any wrongdoing.
Advocate Vishal Tiwari had filed a plea seeking an independent probe into the killing of Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf, alleging foul play in the encounter. The government's response highlights that investigations into these deaths are ongoing, with efforts made to collect additional evidence.
Furthermore, the affidavit underscores that multiple judicial commissions are currently conducting inquiries into various cases, including those of Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf Ahmed, and Atiq's son and nephew. The government contends that the findings of these inquiries have not pointed to any fault within the state machinery.
Regarding the case of gangster Vikas Dubey, the affidavit refers to the Justice BS Chauhan Commission's report, which absolved the state of any wrongdoing. It also notes that other inquiries, such as criminal investigations, magisterial inquiries, and reviews by the Human Rights Commission, have not found fault with the actions of the police. Additionally, the government highlights that no protest petitions challenging these reports have been filed by the relatives of the accused or third parties.
The Uttar Pradesh government's response comes as the Supreme Court takes cognizance of the allegations and demands transparency in the investigations. The court had previously ordered the state government to submit a comprehensive report on the progress of investigations into the 183 encounters that have occurred in the state since 2017.
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